Method of making metal wheels



April 6, 1937. E. E. EILIFELDT 2,076,077

METHOD OF MAKING METAL WHEELS Filed Sept. 23. 1955 Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE 3,07%." METHOD OF MAKING METAL WHEELS Ernest E. Einfcldt, Davenport, Iowa Application September :3, 1935, Serial No. 41,723

1 Claim. .(Cl. 29-159.)

The present invention relates to the making of metal wheels and particularly such as are known 7 as continuous rim wheels. By this is meant those in which the rim is pre-formed and welded before being applied to the spokes.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a method of making metal wheels which is efiicient and inexpensive; to provide a method of making metal wheels by means of which uniform tension is placed upon the spokes; to provide a method of making metal wheels which is easily practiced and which results in a uniformly good construction; and such furtherobjects, advantages, and capabilities as will hereafter appear 5 and as are inherent in the structure and method herein disclosed.

In the drawing annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 illustrates the first step in the assembly of a rim and spider, the rim and hub being shown fragmentarily and in section, and the spoke in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the second step in the operation;

5 Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 and showing the final step in this method of making a metal wheel.

Reference will now be made in greater detail to the annexed drawing, in describing the present method. In the first place, the rims I and hubs 2 are pre-formed and provided with spoke openings 3 and 4' for the reception of the spokes I. These latter are provided at one end with a tapered tenon 6 and a shoulder I at the inner end thereof.

The ends I, opposite the tenons I, are inserted in the holes 4 in the hub 2 and are gripped at a distance from the end-by suitable gripping dies which hold the spokes while the heads 0 and shoulders II are formed, in the usual manner. After all of the spokes have been inserted and secured in the hub to form a complete spider, this is placed inside of the rim l with the tenons I opposite the openings which are Just slightly larger than the small end of the tenon. A part of an embossing die is then placed around the spoke S and shoulder I and the other part of the die. which has an opening therein corresponding to the largest diameter of the tenon, is caused to approach the first mentioned part of the die and thereby emboss the rim as shown in Fig. 2, a slight space being left between the shoulder I and the embossed part of the rim. as indicated at. H. While this embossing is being done, the metal is necessarily stretched and this causes enlargement of the hole 3 so that the embossed portion of the rim I slips comfortably over the tenon i. when all of the bosses have been formed in the rim, this stage of the process has been completed and the structure is then ready for the final stage which is shown in Fig. 3.

In the final stage of this method, a suitable plural piece die I2 is placed around the spoke adjacent the shoulder I and a suitable riveting die It is caused to reciprocate against the end of the tenon i to cause formation of a head ll thereon and to cause the shoulder I and boss I! to be drawn together and held in position. The spokes are thus treated one after another until all of them have been headed and placed under tension. If the dies are properly formed and the method properly carried out, the spokes will have a substantially equal tension throughout the wheel.

It will of course be understood that minor variations of the method described may be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in this specification and the appended claim.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

Those steps in the method of making metal wheels comprising forming a tapered tenon and a shoulder upon one end of each of several spokes. attaching the spokes by the opposite end to a pre-formed hub, inserting the assembled hub and spokes within a pre-formed continuous metal rim having holes for the reception of the free ends of the spokes, the holes in -the rim being of substantially the same size as the small end of the tapered tenons, embossing the rim around the tenons, and heading the spokes to secure them in the rim and place tension on them.

ERNEST E. W. 

